New developments this week included the approval of a protest resolution by the Regional Economic Area Partnership (REAP) of South Central Kansas. The REAP action came at its Monday meeting at the Wichita State University Metroplex, attended by Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, Sedgwick County Commission Chair Tom Winters and numerous other city and county officials from throughout the South Central Kansas region.

The resolution expressed disappointment at the Air Force decision to choose Northrup Grumman over the Boeing Company for production of the KC-135 tankers and urged the Air Force and Congress to review the merits of Boeing proposal.

The local effort to raise public awareness about the decision also includes this week’s posting of an educational video on the City of Wichita’s cable channel 7 and its webpage. The video features Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer and extended comments by 4th District U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, who explains the history of this controversial decision and urges constituents to join the protest.

View the video online

Members of the Kansas congressional delegation, including Rep. Tiahrt and Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, continue to press for a reevaluation of the Pentagon decision to award the tanker contract to a group of companies that include Europe's Airbus consortium and U.S. manufacturer Northrop Grumman.

Meanwhile, the Boeing Company has formally filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office, contending the Pentagon’s decision was flawed.

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